Insert for measuring, mixing and dispensing liquids

ABSTRACT

A device for measuring and dispensing liquids is dimensioned to fit through the neck of a container for a liquid; the device may also be used to mix the measured liquid with a measured diluent, if requested. A tube extends from a normal extended position above the neck to a valve unit near the bottom of the container. The tube is formed with a ball on its lower end and is formed with apertures above the ball. A cylindrical valve seat unit is secured to the bottom of the tube and has a flexibly mounted ring which engages the ball in the extended position of the device to form a liquid seal but flexes away from the ball to permit flow of liquid in a single direction - into the tube - under stress imposed by pushing down on the tube. Below the seat unit is an axially flexible apertured second valve unit which seals off a predetermined quantity of liquid when the tube is pushed down and then compresses axially to force a predetermined quantity of the entrapped liquid past the ring and into the tube: Upon release of the tube, liquid is sucked from the container into the valve slot unit. Water or other diluent may be poured in the open end of the tube to mix with the concentrate. The liquid in the tube is poured from the open upper end.

United States Patent [191 Harschel Jan. 8, 1974 INSERT FOR MEASURING, MIXING AND DISPENSING LIQUIDS 57 ABSTRACT Inventor: Jonas C. Harschel, 8 Mariposa Ct.,

Burlingame, Calif. 94010 Filed: Apr. 16, 1971 Appl. N0.: 134,796

Related US. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 845,166, July 28, 1969, Pat. No. 3,596,806.

US. Cl 222/377, 222/379, 222/407, 267/181 Int. Cl B67d 5/50 Field of Search 222/305, 320, 322, 222/385, 379, 378, 377, 407, 406; 267/158, 161, 181; 128/243; 293/88 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon Att0rney.lulian Caplan A device for measuring and dispensing liquids is dimensioned to fit through the neck of a container for a liquid; the device may also be used to mix the measured liquid with a measured diluent, if requested. A tube extends from a normal extended position above the neck to a valve unit near the bottom of the container. The tube is formed with a ball on its lower end and is formed with apertures above the ball. A cylindrical valve seat unit is secured to the bottom of the tube and has a flexibly mounted ring which engages the ball in the extended position of the device to form a liquid seal but flexes away from the ball to permit flow of liquid in a single direction into the tube under stress imposed by pushing down on the tube. Below the seat unit is an axially flexible apertured second valve unit which seals off a predetermined quantity of liquid when the tube is pushed down and then compresses axially to force a predetermined quantity of the entrapped liquid past the ring and into the tube: Upon release of the tube, liquid is sucked from the container into the valve slot unit. Water or other diluent may be poured in the open end of the tube to mix with the concentrate. The liquid in the tube is poured from the open upper end.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTED JAN 81974 3. 784, 062

Fig.

INVENTOR.

Alforney INSERT FOR MEASURING, MIXING AND DISPENSING LIQUIDS This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 845,166, filed July 28, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,596,806.

This invention relates to a new and improved insert for containers for dispensing liquids and may be used to dilute same. More particularly, the invention relates to a tubular insert which is axially distortable and includes valve structure which permits a fixed quantity of liquid to be measured into the tube from the container merely by pressing down on the tube to distort the length thereof. A second liquid may be poured into the tube. The unmixed or the mixed, properly diluted liquid, is then dispensed from the tube.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a container having means to measure a fixed quantity of a first liquid. The means is a tube which is inserted in the neck of the container and a single cap initially closes both the container and the tube. After initial use, the cap is unnecessary since the valve structure prevents contents of the container from spilling or from drying out.

A typical example of a product by which the present invention may be merchandised is hair rinse which is customarily sold in concentrated form. The user is required to measure a small quantity of the concentrated rinse liquid and to mix the same with a larger quantity of water. Heretofore, such use has required measuring a quantity of the rinse and pouring it into a larger bowl or the like and adding water in a measured amount. The operation has been cumbersome and time consuming and the possibility of improper proportioning is always present. Measuring devices and a mixing bowl are required, and their storage between uses is a problem. The present invention eliminates the undesirable features of prior means for merchandising such products. It will be understood that the present invention may be applied to merchandising a wide variety of other products.

A further feature of the invention is the reduction in the cost of expensive boxes previously required to hold both the liquid container and the mixing devices. In accordance with the present invention, the mixing device fits into the neck of the container and projects above the top of the neck a short distance. This makes it possible to sell the container without an additional enclosing box for the measuring and mixing utensils. The label material may be applied directly to the container. Thus, the necessity of merchandising the product in a liquid-tight container which is in turn enclosed Within a larger box is eliminated.

Another important advantage of the invention is the fact that it enables the user to operate the device while holding the same in the hands. It is not necessary to set a mixing bowl or measuring device down while measuring or mixing. This feature is particularly useful when showering since frequently convenient surfaces on which to rest mixing bowls and the like are not available. ln accordance with the present invention, the device may be hand held during all phases of its use; or in any event, only a small surface area is needed for operation of the measuring step.

Another advantage of the invention is the fact that it is formed of few parts, which may be plastic molded. The parts interfit and are then permanently connected together so that it is not necessary to separate the same and to hold or set down a cap, bowl, or mixing spoon or any other portion of the apparatus when using the same or between uses. The parts may be molded of plastic in a single injection and easily assembled.

The mixing device of the present invention is preferably a tube which fits within the neck of the container and incorporates means for measuring the product and also for the diluent. So long as the containers have the same neck size and the same height, a single tube may be used in containers of different capacities or different design shapes. Accordingly, the manufacturing costs are reduced.

Another advantage of the invention is the fact that the container may be filled with product and the dispensing tube and cap installed after filling. Thus conventional filling apparatus may be employed and the dispensing tube and cap applied later. Also the same container without the tube may be used for related merchandise.

A further feature of the invention is that a standard container may be used and a special container design is avoided.

Additionally, the invention may be used with a variety of concentrated products, such as salad dressings and other foodstuffs, paints and the like.

A still further advantage of the invention is the accuracy of measurement and the fact that air is excluded, making inaccurate measurement unlikely.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device, partly broken away in section to reveal internal construction, and showing on the left-hand side the device in extended position and on the right-hand side in compressed condition.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tube and associated parts, the upper flexible ring being shown extended on the left-hand side and compressed on the right-hand side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower chamber and spring, showing the spring compressed.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of a portion of the spring.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the chamber of FIG. 3.

Container 11 illustrated in the accompanying drawings is intended to be representative of conventional glass or plastic containers with which the device may be used. The container here shown has a bottom 12 which should be interiorly smooth, at least in the center, and a neck 13 at the top which may have external screw threads 14. Below the neck 13 is a shoulder 16 which may be used to assist in retaining the device installed. It will be understood that considerable variation, not only in shape but in other details of construction may be made, the essentials of the container 11 being that it have a bottom 12 against which the tube 21 may be compressed, a neck 13 through which the tube is inserted, and some means for securing a closure cap to the neck.

Tube 21, which is of a cross-section to fit within neck 13 and of a length to rest on bottom 12 and to extend above the top of the neck, is formed at the top with an external rim 22 which the user presses downwardly and which is larger than the inside of the neck. Part way down the length of tube 21 is an external, slightly flexible, ring 23. When tube 21 is initially inserted through neck 13, ring 23 bends upwardly and lies against the outside of tube 21 so that it passes through. neck 13. After the ring 23 has passed shoulder 16, it flexes outwardly to the position shown in the left side of FIG. 1 and engages under the shoulder 16, thereby preventing subsequent withdrawal of tube 21. Ring 23 also seals under shoulder 16 in the dispensing or extended position of the tube and prevents liquid in the container from leaking out between the tube and the neck.

The bottom of tube 21 is formed with a hollow spheroidal portion or ball 24 of lesser diameter than tube 21. The walls of tube 21 immediately above ball 24 are formed with window-like apertures 26. Above apertures 26, tube 21 is irregularly shaped (as best shown in the cross-section of FIG. 1) and adjacent the point at which the lesser diameter portion of the tube joins the cylindrical portion thereof is a locking groove 27.

Attached to the bottom or restricted diameter portion of the tube 21 is a valve unit 31 which has an maximum external diameter equal to the external diameter of tube 21. Opposite apertures 26 valve unit 31 is formed with a cylindrical wall 32 and above the wall 32 is a locking bead 33 which snaps into groove 27 and secures the parts 31 and 21 together. At the bottom of wall 32 isan inwardly directed annular diaphragm 34 which terminates in an internal, upwardly-inwardly directed ring 36 which engages the outside of ball 24. Since the ring 36 may flex toward and away from the ball 24, there is a valve passage 37 between ring 36 and ball 24 which permits flow of the contents of container 11 upwardly relative to tube 21 through passage 37 and through apertures 26 into the interior of ball 24 and tube 21.

At the lower end of the unit is a lower chamber forming member 41 which also incorporates a spring feature. Member 41 has an internal rim 42 which locks into a cooperating groove 42a in the exterior of unit 31 so that parts 21, 31 and 41 are permanently assembled. The wall 43 of chamber forming member 41 is of about the same outside diameter as tube 21. The wall 43 immediately below rim 42 is formed with longitudinal, closely spaced narrow slits 44 which extend about half the length of wall 43. The slits 44 allow the portions 48 between the slits to flex outwardly, as best shown in FIG. 3, thereby decreasing the axial length of the member 41. Since the member 41 is formed of a resilient plastic material such as polyethylene, the outward flexing of portions 48 permit the member 41 to depress, but by reason of the resilient nature of the material of which the portions 48 are constructed, the portions 48 tend to return to straight position and thus the member functions as a spring. The spring flexes axially.

At the bottom of the wall 43 is a bottom sealing ring 46 which seals against the bottom 12 of container 11 when the tube 21 is pushed down. An aperture in the form of a hole or slit 47 is formed in the bottom wall 49 of the unit 41. Thus, when the ring 46 isout of firm contact with bottom 12, liquid may enter through aperliquid from the container 11 inside member 41.

As an optional feature, to supplement the spring member 41, a top spring 51 may be used. Tubular spring 51 is installed around the upper end of tube 21. its upper edge 52 fits under rim 22 and its bottom rim 53, which is of enlarged outside diameter, rests upon the top lip of neck 13. A retainer 56 may be used to secure the rim 53 in place. Such retainer has an inward turned flange 57 at its upper end which fits on top of rim 53 and captures it against the neck 13. The retainer 56 may be screw-threaded to tit on the thread 14 or it may otherwise be secured to neck 13. Where spring 51 is used, a groove 52a is formed in tube 21 below rim 22 to receive inturned edge 52 and secure the parts together.

A cap 59 fits around the upper end of neck 13 and encloses the tube 21 and top spring 51 if used. The bottom edge of the cap 59 may ve formed with a bead 61 which engages threads in retainer 56 or otherwise may be secured to the container neck or retainer.

in use of the device, it will be assumed that the com tainer 11 is filled with a concentrated liquid such as a hair rinse, and that it is desired to measure a predetermined quantity of said rinse and then dilute it with a predetermined quantity of another liquid, such as water. The tube 21 and its associated preassembled parts 31, 41 and 51 are either packaged separately from the container 11 and used repeatedly or may be initially installed in the container 11 after the container has been filled. Where the device is to be used only one time, when tube 21 is slid into the neck 13, ring 23 folds upwardly along the wall of the tube until it passes the shoulder 16 whereupon it springs out to its extended position preventing withdrawal of the tube.

With the cap 59 removed, and tube 21 inserted in neck 13, either holding the container in one hand or resting container 11 on a suitable support surface, the user presses down on the rim 22, compressing the length of the tube. When the tube 21 is depressed, the portions 48 between the slits 44 bow outwardly, reducing the overall length of the tube and also enabling the bottom sealing ring 46 to seal against bottom 12. Previous to the depression of the tube, liquid has been free to flow past ring 46, through the aperture 47, into the interior of lower chamber forming member 41. Since cylindrical wall 43 extends below the lower edge of slits 44, as the length of the member 41 shortens, liquid cannot flow out through the slits 44 but must flow through the passage 37 between valve unit 31 and ball 24 and then through the apertures 26 in the interior of ball 24. The distance which the tube 21 may compress is determined by the distance between the top of the neck 13 and the rim22 and thus is a predetermined dimension which controls the amount of liquid which is forced through passage 37. In other words, a predetermined amount of concentrated liquid is forced into'the interior of tube 21 for each compressive stroke thereof, and thus a predetermining quantity of liquid is measured from container 11. The tube 21 is then allowed to relax to extended position and the passage 37 is closed. In extending tube 21, spring 51 assists spring 41. When the tube 21 has returned to extended position, the diluting liquid is poured into the upper end of the tube and since the tube has a predetermined volume, a predetermined quantity of diluent may be mixed with the predetermined quantity of concentrate. The mixed ingredients are then dispensed from the upper end of the tube.

The release of tube 21 causes liquid in container 11 to be sucked into the interior of member 41. Valve passage 37 closes, preventing spilling of liquid or evaporation. Hence the container need not be capped.

As will be understood, it is not always desirable to dilute the liquid. The device may be used to measure a fixed quantity, which is poured out of tube 21 undiluted.

The spring feature member 41 and of member 51 is useful for other purposes. Directing attention to FIG. 4 which shows the spring portion of member 41 and also may be used to illustrate spring 51, the slits 44 may be formed in the interior of rim 42 and then down the cylindrical wall 43 for a desired distance. In the spring 51 the slits extend all the way down to the bottom rim 53, but this is not essential. The walls 43 between the slits 44 may be weakened, to augment the tendency of the portion 48 between the slits to bow outwardly. Whenever there is a compressive force between the upper and lower ends of member 41 and 51, the portions 48 bow outwardly (or inwardly, depending upon the way they are constructed), reducing the overall length of the member 41 in an axial direction. Since the member 41 or spring 51 is fabricated of a resilient material such as polyethylene, the memory of the plastic intends to return it to initial position and hence the member operates as a spring which is compressible in an axial direction.

In the modification of FIG. 5, member 41a is formed with an inturned, flexible feather-edged annular flange 49a which supplements the effect of ring 46a to close off communication from the container to the interior of member 41a when the tube is depressed from solid line to dotted line positions. In other respects, the structure is similar to FIGS. 1-4 and the same reference numerals, followed by subscript a, are used to designate corresponding elements.

What is claimed is:

l. A measuring device comprising a container having a neck and a smooth bottom below said neck, and a slidable tubular unit, said unit dimensioned to reciprocate in said neck and having an extended position elevated substantially above said neck and a compressed position, said unit comprising an open top tube having a first valve member at its lower end and at least one window above said first valve member, a valve unit fixed to the lower end of said tube formed with a second valve member engaging said first valve member in a normally closed, annular valve passage, and a hollow cylindrical lower chamber forming member formed of resiliently flexible material having normally closed openings formed therein for a restricted portion of its length, said chamber forming member formed with an apertured lower end and a sealing ring around said apertured lower end effective to seal against said smooth bottom, said chamber forming member surrounding said valve unit and positioned so that downward pressure on said tube forces said sealing ring against said smooth bottom, said chamber forming member flexing adjacent said openings to compress axially when said tubular unit is depressed from extended to compressed position, said sealing ring preventing escape of liquid within said chamber forming member out past said sealing ring back to said container, said first and second valve members flexing under pressure in said chamber forming member to open said valve passage to admit liquid in said chamber forming member through said window into said tube.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said first valve member is a hollow spheroidal section and said second valve member is an annular bead fitting against the exterior of said spheroidal section, said second valve member having a flexible diaphragm supporting said annular bead.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said normally closed openings of said chamber forming member comprise narrow longitudinal slits extending along the top of said member and terminating substantially above the bottom edge of said member, the portions of said member between said slits being flexible to bow outwardly under axial compression of said chamber forming member.

4. A device according to claim 1 which further comprises a flexible external bead on said tube engaging said container immediately below said neck in extended position of said unit to restrain withdrawal of said unit from said container and also to prevent leakage from said container around the outside of said unit and outside said neck.

5. A device according to claim 1 which further comprises a cylindrical, axially compressible spring around the outside of said tube, said tube having an external bead bearing against the top of said spring, the bottom of said spring bearing against said neck, said spring formed with longitudinal narrow slits, the portions of said spring between said slits being flexible to bow outwardly when said tubular unit is compressed from extended to compressed position and biasing said unit back to extended position.

6. A cylindrical, axially compressible tubular spring having first and second rims, and a thin, normally cylindrical wall between said rims formed of resiliently flexible material, said first rim being external of said wall, said spring being open at each end and the inside diameter of said spring is substantially uniform throughout, said wall formed with a plurality of narrow longitudinal slits extending from a position adjacent said first rim to a position spaced a substantial distance from said second rim, said slits extending into the material of the wall on the inside of said first rim, said slits being resiliently flexible to bow outwardly when said spring is compressed axially and by their resiliency returning to original cylindrical condition when compression on said spring is relaxed, the portion of said wall remote from said slits remaining cylindrical when said spring is 

1. A measuring device comprising a container having a neck and a smooth bottom below said neck, and a slidable tubular unit, said unit dimensioned to reciprocate in said neck and having an extended position elevated substantially above said neck and a compressed position, said unit comprising an open top tube having a first valve member at its lower end and at least one window above said first valve member, a valve unit fixed to the lower end of said tube formed with a second valve member engaging said first valve member in a normally closed, annular valve passage, and a hollow cylindrical lower chamber forming member formed of resiliently flexible material having normally closed openings formed therein for a restricted portion of its length, said chamber forming member formed with an apertured lower end and a sealing ring around said apertured lower end effective to seal against said smooth bottom, said chamber forming member surrounding said valve unit and positioned so that downward pressure on said tube forces said sealing ring against said smooth bottom, said chamber forming member flexing adjacent said openings to compress axially when said tubular unit is depressed from extended to compressed position, said sealing ring preventing escape of liquid within said chamber forming member out past said sealing ring back to said container, said first and second valve members flexing under pressure in said chamber forming member to open said valve passage to admit liquid in said chamber forming member through said window into said tube.
 2. A device according to claim 1 in which said first valve member is a hollow spheroidal section and said second valve member is an annular bead fitting against the exterior of said spheroidal section, said second valve member having a flexible diaphragm supporting said annular bead.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said normally closed openings of said chamber forming member comprise narrow longitudinal slits extending along the top of said member and terminating substantially above the bottom edge of said member, the portions of said member between said slits being flexible to bow outwardly under axial compression of said chamber forming member.
 4. A device according to claim 1 which further comprises a flexible external bead on said tube engaging said container immediately below said neck in extended position of said unit to restrain withdrawal of said unit from said container and also to prevent leakage from said container around the outside of said unit and Outside said neck.
 5. A device according to claim 1 which further comprises a cylindrical, axially compressible spring around the outside of said tube, said tube having an external bead bearing against the top of said spring, the bottom of said spring bearing against said neck, said spring formed with longitudinal narrow slits, the portions of said spring between said slits being flexible to bow outwardly when said tubular unit is compressed from extended to compressed position and biasing said unit back to extended position.
 6. A cylindrical, axially compressible tubular spring having first and second rims, and a thin, normally cylindrical wall between said rims formed of resiliently flexible material, said first rim being external of said wall, said spring being open at each end and the inside diameter of said spring is substantially uniform throughout, said wall formed with a plurality of narrow longitudinal slits extending from a position adjacent said first rim to a position spaced a substantial distance from said second rim, said slits extending into the material of the wall on the inside of said first rim, said slits being resiliently flexible to bow outwardly when said spring is compressed axially and by their resiliency returning to original cylindrical condition when compression on said spring is relaxed, the portion of said wall remote from said slits remaining cylindrical when said spring is compressed. 